Screening and Diagnostic Mammography Increasingly Shown to Utilize Computer-Aided Detection Technology

The use of computer-aided detection (CAD) technology is increasing, in both screening and diagnostic mammography, according to a new study.

CAD software systems target and alert the radiologist of abnormal areas of density, mass, or calcification on a digitized mammographic image (of the breast) that may indicate the presence of cancer.

Screening mammography is an X-ray exam of the breast that is used as a tool to detect early breast cancer in women experiencing no symptoms. Diagnostic mammography is an X-ray exam of the breast that is performed in order to assess a breast alert of abnormality detected by physical exam or routine screening mammography.

Researchers from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (Philadelphia, PA, USA) reviewed codes for screening and diagnostic mammography (both screen-film and digital) as well as codes for screening and diagnostic CAD from the Medicare Part B Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary Master Files for 2004-2008.

In 2004, a total of 5,728,419 screening mammograms were performed, and CAD was used in 2,257,434 (39%) of them. In 2008, a total of 5,827,326 screening mammograms were performed, and CAD was employed in 4,305,595 (74%) of them. In 2004, a total of 1,835,700 diagnostic mammograms were performed, and CAD was used in 360,483 (20%) of them. In 2008, a total of 1,682,026 diagnostic mammograms were performed, and CAD was used in 845,461 (50%) of them.

"By 2008, CAD was used in about three quarters of all screening exams and half of all diagnostic exams,” said Vijay M. Rao, M.D., lead author of the study, which was published in the October 2010 issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR). "The use of CAD is controversial, while some support it and others are critical of it. Nonetheless, while there remains debate over the efficacy of CAD, it is apparent that radiologists are increasingly utilizing this technology and that it is becoming standard practice in breast diagnosis.”

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